I prayed the door wouldn’t squeak. I opened it a crack, just enough to slip through. I eased the door shut and stepped out into the night, feeling like a Chinese ninja assassin. I tiptoed to the far end of the house, towards a spot between the garden and the front entrance. My heart was beating steadily. I saw Uta. He was talking with the stranger, but the sound of the water fountain lapping made it difficult for me to hear them. I crept even closer and ducked behind some flowers. I took a deep breath to calm myself and tried to block out the gurgling sound of water. This was the worst part about eavesdropping on someone; it wasn’t like a television where I could turn up the volume.

“What’s going on, Yasu? You must want something otherwise; you wouldn’t have shown up here.”

“Perhaps I came for a drink and to chat.”

This voice… I knew it. I have heard it before.

“If that’s the case, why suggested speaking outside? That’s hardly something to hide from a mortal. Come on, Yasu. Talk. I’d rather we get this over with. I’ve company inside.”

“Since you were on Isle Edith, I figured you don’t know what’s taking place at the Institute as we speak.”

I thought when Uta left he went to the Institute. Where is Isle Edith? And why was he there?

“I wanted to stop on my way home, but circumstances made it somewhat impossible.”

Yasu asked in an incredulous voice. “You didn’t stop because of a mortal girl?”

“Don’t forget mortals play a huge role.”

“Whatever.” He fanned Uta off. “I should have left with today’s group, but I got held up and judging from your arm, I’m guessing it was an intense two weeks.”

Uta gazed down at his wounded arm. “Intense all right.”

“I must ask. Does this mortal play that role, Uta?”

I wondered what Yasu meant by that.

Uta’s jaws clenched tight. “Certainly not!”

“She must be something special.”

This voice resembled the one in my dreams. But he was Uta’s friend. And a vampire at that. This made little sense.

“Now is not the time for such discussion.”

“Protective of this mortal, aren’t you?”

“What’re you trying to do, Yasu?” My boyfriend was getting worked up.

Yasu chuckled, enjoying his friend’s abrupt agitation. He was a troublemaker. That much was clear.

“That sudden twitch in your face is about to get worse. What’s the most horrible thing that can ever happen to us?”

Yasu gazed up at the sky. Uta took so long to reply that his friend shifted his gaze and stare at him. He was staring back at Yasu with an anxious face, with his own kind of fear.

“I suppose humans finding out about us. It’s what they try hard to protect. Our identity.”

“Well, what I’m about to say can change all that.”

“I’m not following. Get to the point. I don’t have time for cat-and-mouse games. What could be worse than humans finding out about us?” Uta demanded.

“We have a problem. A major problem.”

Oh, crap! This was how my nightmare started.

“Don’t we have major problems daily?”

“If you want your sweet little innocent girlfriend—to live and see the rest of her blissful life, you’ll take me seriously.”

His tone overwhelmed me with a feeling of death. I heard a clicking noise; only then did I realise it was my own teeth clicking together. It wasn’t because I’m cold, but his words cut through me and I’m horrified about his meaning.

“Fine! Tell me!”

“There’s a virus out in the human world.”

Uta looked confused. “That’s not unheard of. Why is it a problem?”

“This isn’t just any virus, idiot. We received blood as we always do, but this time, it’s tainted. Do you know what this means? No. Okay. I’ll give you a second. Hurry! Guess yet?”

“It’s not possible!” Uta exclaimed.

“But it is without a doubt possible.”

“Are you certain?”

“I am.”

“This is bad!” Shock stretched a path like a train track across my boyfriend’s face.

I groaned, realising just how dangerous this conversation was. The chilly air started seeping in and I shivered. My dress provided very little warmth. I knew I should get inside, but I’m too stubborn and I wanted to hear more.

“It gets worse.”

“It always does.”

Yasu paused for a moment. “It’s Joe. He’s infected, Uta.”

“What? No!” Uta shouted. “He can’t be!”

“And yet he is.”

I’d never seen him this distraught. He was always in control, and seeing him hurting like this made me want to cry.

“How many?”

“Too many. You know what it does to us. We’ve to contain them until we figure something out.”

I let out a loud gasp, but my face felt lifeless. I’m dumbstruck by the news, devastated and in shock. I’d never felt this way before. Yes, I’d felt horrible, shocked, and deceived, just not like this.

“Was he informed?”

Who were they talking about?

“Dennis tried calling Wade but had no luck so for.”

“We must find a cure. It’s the only way to save them and my uncle.”

“But how? The only guy I know who could help us is out of town. I guess I could try contacting him.”

“Yes,” Uta agreed. “Try.”

A feeling of dread overcame me, and I felt an abrupt chill in the pit of the stomach. The chilly wind whipped my face and my nose ran. Overhead, the clouds covered the sky as if they were agreeing with me.

What would happen if they couldn’t contain it? I swallowed the lump in my throat. My stomach churned, and my knees buckled. Suddenly the night was horrible.

“Damn it to hell!” Uta’s stressed voice interrupted my thoughts.

“There’s no need to get worked up. We’ll fix it in time, I trust.”

Yasu sounded dubious.

“I’m not sure how long before the news finds its way to Wade, but we know what’ll happen if matters get out of control.”

Yasu shot Uta a look that made me even more curious.

“I’ll need your help Yasu if ever I stand any chance at locating a cure.”

“That’s good and all, but can we please get inside now? I don’t know about you but I’m freezing my ass off.”

“Let's.” Uta led his friend toward the house.

I bolted towards the back door and continued running for what seemed longer than it shouldn’t take to get inside. I stopped dead in my tracks when, through the window, I saw Uta and Yasu standing inside, talking. When I reached the door and placed my shoulders against it. For some odd reason, it felt heavier than before. I struggled to open the jammed door. I sighed in frustration. The door didn’t give way easily. It needed a forceful push. I drew in a sharp breath as the door made a loud crack. My shoulders slumped, and my head dropped as I leaned against it, exhausted. After a minute, I hurried inside, not wasting time to close the door behind me.

“Where have you been?”

I spun around, startled. Uta stood beside his friend. My boyfriend seemed distressed by the news he heard. His face looked a little tired. He raked his fingers through his ruffled crimson mane with a gesture I admired and had seen many times.

When I looked in Yasu’s direction, I was stunned. Under the bright kitchen light, I thought—such a beautiful young man existed in this world?

My heartbeat quickened… an odd sensation was building up in me. I clenched my fist and bit my lips. Under his piercing and steady gaze—I was a quivering mess. Yasu head tilted, eyes observing me like I was a math equation he had a problem solving.

I wondered why… there was a quiver in the depths of my heart.